And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

This portion of Scripture is a message that Moses gave to the Jewish people while traveling towards the “promised land”, however, it has a prophetic significance that would be played out during two different unique periods of history.

The passage follows the message that Moses had given explaining the “curses” and the “blessings” in the previous chapter, Deuteronomy 27. Chapter 28includes the conditions for receiving “blessings”,verses 1-14, when they come into the land God was to give them.

This chapter also lays out the conditions, which would bring chastisement after they arrive in the land,verses 15-62, and the world-wide dispersion, punishment for continued disobedience,verses 63-68.

Now God’s man to lead the Children of Israel to the land He had promised them, Moses, is given the responsibility to “warn” the Jews that they would face “tough times” ahead if they were disobedient to His directives.

Moses wrote of a “world-wide dispersion” for disobedience that would include a “terrible time” of loneliness as the Lord would withdraw His hand of protection from His “chosen people” because they refused to do as He told them. They had been set apart for a purpose and they rejected His plan for them.

This prophecy was actually fulfilled in 70 AD when General Titus, leader of the Roman army, destroyed the Jewish Temple, devastated the city of Jerusalem and dispersed the Jews to the four corners of the earth,verse 64.

In fact, the “Arch of Titus”, located in Rome, Italy, is a monument to this fulfilled prophecy. Remember, fulfilled prophecy is a reason to believe that all other prophecies yet to be fulfilled, will be fulfilled.

The fulfillment of this prophecy in Deuteronomy was fulfilled by the last departure of the Jews, as foretold in the Bible, when they were put out of the land of Israel in 70 AD. A close study of the “life of the Jewish people” over the almost 2,000 years of their dispersion, was described in our devotional reading for today also.

The promise of the return –the very last return spoken of in the Bible - is now under way and has been so for a number of years. It will culminate with the return of Jesus Christ to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem,Zechariah 14:4.

Preceding our Lord's Second Coming by seven years will be the Lord's shout for us to join Him in the air at the Rapture of the Church, which could be today. Keep looking up.

PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, thank you for the reminder that there is a price to pay for disobedience. Help me to be obedient as I await Your return to gather me up to be with You, forever.